 
Panasonic's SC-AK47 music system raises the stakes for quality two-channel playback. This system is not trying to ride the growing surround-sound trend; rather, it delivers open, effortless playback from CD, cassette, and radio through two well-engineered and well-amplified loudspeakers. (The system does sport outputs for two additional speakers, but it doesn't process Dolby Pro Logic surround sound.) Panasonic not only grasps good engineering principles, but also understands that compact music systems will find themselves with many different owners in many different environments, necessitating the option of a broad array of equalization (EQ). With one user-definable and six preset EQ settings, two levels of 3-D acoustic-image EQ, and two levels of bass-pumping super woofer settings--to say nothing of the pure and direct flat (no-effects) setting--the SC-AK47 has the flexibility to adjust to anyone's taste or circumstances. But it's the fundamentals that appeal to us: tastefully balanced four-way speakers (three-way speakers superimposed over 7-inch super woofers,) backed by amazingly clear and stable 85 watts-plus per channel power. The SC-AK47 isn't perfect, of course: the bass doesn't extend much below 60 Hz, the five-CD player takes ages to switch discs, you can't change other CDs while one disc is playing, and a palm-sized remote-control does not allow adequate space for all the buttons required of a full-function remote. All the same, the fundamentals--along with the many tasteful extras-- more than compensate for these shortcomings. You get terrific sound from the dual-well cassette decks (often the first thing to go in lower-end models), good off-axis frequency response (you don't have to be right in front of the speakers for them to sound good), and the system plays very loudly before succumbing to distortion or bass compression. Other niceties include small rubber feet for each of the three pieces, removable speaker grilles, and a digital volume control that extends down to -82 dB (many cut to silence at -60 dB and above, limiting your choices in low-volume listening). In all, a wonderful little system that we highly recommend. Product Specifications: - 5-CD changer with 5 direct-open
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